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Description
Asian Black Spined Toad
Scientific Name: Duttaphrynus melanostictus
Common Name: Asian Black Spined Toad
Species Overview
Size: Adults generally reach 3 to 5 inches (7.5 to 12.5 cm), with females often slightly larger and more robust than males.
Appearance: The Asian Black Spined Toad has a compact, sturdy body with coarse raised tubercles and characteristic dark spines scattered across the back. Colouration ranges from tan and olive to deeper brown or charcoal grey. Some individuals show a faint pale dorsal stripe. The parotoid glands are large and pronounced, and the eyes show copper or golden tones with horizontal pupils. The underside is pale and usually speckled. Males may develop dark nuptial pads during breeding.
Distribution: Found widely across southern and southeastern Asia, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, southern China, and parts of Indonesia. It adapts well to agricultural and urban environments.
Habitat: Wild populations occupy forests, grasslands, croplands, wetlands, and human-modified landscapes. They breed in temporary or permanent freshwater bodies, from ponds to ditches. In captivity, they thrive in terrestrial setups with moderate humidity, deep substrate, and cover.
Behaviour: Nocturnal and solitary, these toads emerge at night to hunt. They show short, deliberate hops and rely heavily on camouflage when threatened. Subtle territorial behaviour may occur when kept in groups.
Captive Care
Enclosure: A single adult can be housed in a 24 × 18 × 18 inches (60 × 45 × 45 cm) enclosure. Provide deep, slightly moist soil or coconut fibre mixed with leaf litter for burrowing. Add cork flats, logs, and plants for shaded retreats. A shallow water dish large enough for soaking should be available at all times. For groups, upgrading to 36 × 18 × 18 inches (90 × 45 × 45 cm) reduces stress and territorial tension.
Temperature and Humidity:
Ambient temperature: 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C)
Warm area: 84 to 88°F (29 to 31°C)
Night temperature: 70 to 74°F (21 to 23°C)
Humidity: 50 to 70%, with daily misting and natural partial drying during the daytime.
Lighting: Low-level UVB (2 to 5%) is beneficial. Keep lighting gentle and provide shaded zones to prevent stress.
Diet: Feed a varied insect diet including crickets, roaches, earthworms, black soldier fly larvae, and occasional soft-bodied invertebrates. Supplement with calcium and multivitamins. Juveniles require more frequent feedings than adults.
Behaviour in Captivity: Hardy and adaptable, these toads settle quickly with proper care. They hide by day and become active, bold feeders at night. Handling should be limited due to their sensitive skin and defensive secretions.
Genetics Note
There are no recognised morphs for the Asian Black Spined Toad. Natural variation in dorsal tone, tubercle pattern, and stripe presence occurs across its broad range, but these are not defined genetic morphs.